Hi all, hoping for some help/input here. We are going to Japan (Hokkaido, with a guide) in February and will be doing a combination of resort, sidecountry, and touring, about a third each. Maybe a smidge less touring. Currently I have downhill boots (Tecnica Mach1) and lightweight touring boots (Zero G Scout). I find the Scouts pretty mushy on the downhill and given our goals for the trip, my husband suggested a hybrid set up (versus bring 2 pairs--which would be a lot for a family of 4). So I've purchased Backland 109s and the new ATK Hy binding, thinking this would be a good set up for the trip and will also get use at home for sidecountry. What I'm less certain of is whether I should try hybrid boots (e.g. Tecnica Cochise) or not. Could use my tour scouts, but they really arent my favorite for enjoying the downhill. Can anyone comment on how much will I hate hybrid for uphill travel? Should I look at other boots besides the cochise? Any thoughts/input welcome!
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Boot help
- Thread starter beane
- Start date
Where is your home mountain?
I’m going to Hokkaido for a month, resorts, sidecountry and backcountry, might get a guide for 2 days. Decided I’m only bringing my lightweight touring boots (Dalbello Free Quatum) with Hotronics boot heater (unbearably cold on the pizza box single lift at Niseko 3 years ago), with Volkl Blaze 106.
Don’t own hybrid boots, so no comment on it.
I’m going to Hokkaido for a month, resorts, sidecountry and backcountry, might get a guide for 2 days. Decided I’m only bringing my lightweight touring boots (Dalbello Free Quatum) with Hotronics boot heater (unbearably cold on the pizza box single lift at Niseko 3 years ago), with Volkl Blaze 106.
Don’t own hybrid boots, so no comment on it.
We live in tahoe
Gripwalk are as heavy as alpine boots. Try Scott celeste may not be as stiff as your Mach1 but definitely stiffer than zeroG.
109 is clunky for touring unless you are very skilled and/or very tall (I am neither )
You should try your setup in Tahoe since the snow quality in Hokkaido is about same as Tahoe.
Also ATK hy may not be sturdy enough if you are charging hard in resort. You can rent touring skis in Hokkaido with G3 demo bindings.
109 is clunky for touring unless you are very skilled and/or very tall (I am neither )
You should try your setup in Tahoe since the snow quality in Hokkaido is about same as Tahoe.
Also ATK hy may not be sturdy enough if you are charging hard in resort. You can rent touring skis in Hokkaido with G3 demo bindings.
I own a pair of Cochise. I had a different hybrid boot before. I’ll just say that when the skin is low angle, hybrid boots really suck. I took my Salomon Mtns to Europe a couple years ago on weight and to have a single setup. I am also struggling with what I’m going to take to Japan this Feb. hopefully bbs is telemark and doesn’t face quite the same challenge.
The Cochise is not the lightest boot but it's a good hybrid and if it fits you well, that's a winner for this trip.
If I were you I'd be more concerned about fit, comfort and performance if I were going on a trip like this.
I think you're on the right track.
Tahoe is known for Sierra Cement, average density 12%. Hokkaido is more like Utah, closer to 8%. Having lived at all 3 places, I will argue that Hokkaido has lighter snow than Utah throughout January and February.
Touring rental availability depends on your size.
I’m also recalling several firm resort days in Hokkaido, wide skis are no fun, if not hazardous. So decided to bring two pairs of skis and two pairs of boots myself.
One can look up the weight of various boots and the their range of motion. I’d rely on my local shop like Backcountry, Sports Hub, or Alpenglow for their expertise (or even rental boots to try out) if you’re at Northshore Tahoe. And train before your trip. It’ll be fun, don’t overthink it.
Touring rental availability depends on your size.
I’m also recalling several firm resort days in Hokkaido, wide skis are no fun, if not hazardous. So decided to bring two pairs of skis and two pairs of boots myself.
One can look up the weight of various boots and the their range of motion. I’d rely on my local shop like Backcountry, Sports Hub, or Alpenglow for their expertise (or even rental boots to try out) if you’re at Northshore Tahoe. And train before your trip. It’ll be fun, don’t overthink it.
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So I took my touring boots (zero g) to a resort a few weeks ago and they weren't too bad, but I ordered this thing from Raide that supposedly increases forward lean (haven't installed yet). They definitely don't have the "suspension" of a downhill boot but they really weren't bad to do resort laps with (used my qst 92s). I'm also thinking if it is firm on the resort days we can rent regular downhill skis?
Thanks for the update. Totally, much easier to rent alpine vs. touring gear especially for women.
Would you please share more about the thing from Raide, I’d love to learn more about it.
ZGTP Forward Lean Mod
This kit replaces the metal part that the walkmode lever of the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro boot attaches to to give the boot more forward lean. It increases the forward lean 3 degrees. This boot has always been regarded as the boot that balances downhill and uphill performance, but where it has...
raideresearch.com
elemmac
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Why do you think you’ll hate them? Weight? Flexibility range in walk mode? Something else?
I run a hybrid boot (currently full time on resort), but I generally stick to short tours, when I do hike. I have only brought snowboards/splitboards to Japan, so don’t have firsthand experience with the your situation. But having done trips with other skiers for a mix of on-resort and touring days, I wouldn’t hesitate to use my current boot (Atomic Ultra Hawx XTD).
I think just the weight. And thinking I’ll be too extra having three pairs of boots.
Hybrid boot skinning up steeper hills (say, the local resort) was fine for me. But lower angle stuff (a road) was brutal. The cuff of the boot forced me too far forward, my quads calves were screaming. Not sure what the cuff angle ranges are on your boots, but more degrees of motion is better for skinning. Recalling that pain, I think I’d rather ski resort in my touring boots than skin in my resort boots.
elemmac
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Since you’re used to full touring gear, you might feel it and wish you had something lighter. Or you also might wish you had your downhill boots when on resort. You need to figure out which you’re willing to gamble with potential regret…no one here will answer that for you. For me, I’d rather take on the extra weight than jeopardize my enjoyment on-resort. But this might not be your answer.
This is interesting…it sounds more like an issue with the specific boot and your anatomy rather than a general hybrid boot issue. I regularly would take my former AT hybrid-ish boots (Dalbello Lupo) out for walks with the dog on old cross country ski trails…so very flat terrain and would skin for a couple hours, without issue.
spoicegurl
Certified Ski Diva
Your zero g might feel mushy because those liners are notorious for packing out. Perhaps you could replace the liner with a new Intuition tongue liner for touring and use zip fit for resort days?...if money is out of the question of course. I have done this with atomic hawx hybrid boots and it completely changes the feel of the boot. The zip fit adds about 10 flex points to the boot in my experience while the intuition is nice, light and probably less sloppy feeling than your clapped out stock liner. The touring specific intution tongues will help maximise walking capabilities.....zip fit for resort days and new intuition for walking days, paired with a nice custom footbed.
I have owned the Cochise and found that they are way too heavy to tour with for anything remotely substantial (1000ft vert +) and I'm in great shape. The range of motion totally sucks too. And you will probably just wish you had brought your zero gs. The improved downhill skiing expeirence of the cochise won't matter if your quads are cooked from a 1.5 hour skin.
Take this with a grain of salt because it's totally my opinion.
I have owned the Cochise and found that they are way too heavy to tour with for anything remotely substantial (1000ft vert +) and I'm in great shape. The range of motion totally sucks too. And you will probably just wish you had brought your zero gs. The improved downhill skiing expeirence of the cochise won't matter if your quads are cooked from a 1.5 hour skin.
Take this with a grain of salt because it's totally my opinion.
Update:
Boots - decided to use my zero Gs and returned the cochises. Currently having the raide forward lean things installed, will report back. I don't think the liners are packed out b/c they're not that used but will keep in mind. I'm going to have the heated footbeds installed since I have the batteries for my downhill boots and the heating element is pretty cheap.
Skis- had a sleepless night worrying about the backland 176 being too long for me/my skill level and am going to return them. Got voile hyper v8 in a 171 which I think will be just the ticket.
Bindings- given that i'm using a very light ski and boot, the shop thought the hy would be unnecessary and i'm just going with an ATK raider.
thanks for the input y'all! I may end up with a hybrid boot in the future when my downhill boots need replacing (to make sidecountry more doable)...
Boots - decided to use my zero Gs and returned the cochises. Currently having the raide forward lean things installed, will report back. I don't think the liners are packed out b/c they're not that used but will keep in mind. I'm going to have the heated footbeds installed since I have the batteries for my downhill boots and the heating element is pretty cheap.
Skis- had a sleepless night worrying about the backland 176 being too long for me/my skill level and am going to return them. Got voile hyper v8 in a 171 which I think will be just the ticket.
Bindings- given that i'm using a very light ski and boot, the shop thought the hy would be unnecessary and i'm just going with an ATK raider.
thanks for the input y'all! I may end up with a hybrid boot in the future when my downhill boots need replacing (to make sidecountry more doable)...
